Chapter 7 — Five Missed Registrations

There are no cliche greetings.

“Senior, I want to counterattack. But I don't want to pull the strings and stir up trouble.”

The other end of the line was silent for two seconds.

“What are you going to do?”

"First step, make sure your father's land does not fall into Co Dien Chu's hands. Second step, collect evidence of his weaknesses in business. Third step —"

I stopped for a moment.

“Let them lose everything.”

Luc Tu did not advise me to calm down. He only said one sentence: "Regarding the land, I have verified the ownership documents from your father's side. Currently the ownership is very clear, there is no agreement on behalf of the name or development trust. But Co Dien Chu met your father once last year, I don't know the content. You need to confirm with your father."

“I know.”

"In addition —" Luc Tu's voice became a little more cautious, "About his company, I investigated a few things, but I need more evidence to determine whether it constitutes a violation of the law or not. You need time."

“I have time.”

“Last thing.” He said, "Nien Duong, if you want to follow the legal path, you need to keep your emotions very stable. Don't let the other person notice any abnormalities. Can you do that?"

“I can do it.”

I spoke very quietly. After hanging up, I called my father's number.

“Dad, during Tet last year, Co Dien Chu talked to you about the land in the West, did he contact you again after that?”

Father's voice came from the phone, carrying the cheerfulness typical of an older person: "Yes! Last month he invited me to dinner, said he wanted to cooperate in development, and even showed me a plan. I think the conditions are okay, I'm planning to discuss it with you. What do you think.."

“Dad.”

I interrupted him.

“Dad, don't rush to sign anything on that plan.”

“What's wrong, child?”

"I'm working on a new project that might use that land. I'll wait for you for a week, when you finish planning the details, I'll talk to you later."

My father was a bit skeptical, but still agreed.

"Okay, dad, listen to me. Anyway, it's not urgent."

I hung up the phone, leaned back in my chair, and let out a long breath. So lucky. He hasn't signed yet. The next two weeks, I began a two-front war. In the morning — I was an obedient girlfriend, still going out on a date with Co Dien Chu as usual, still having lunch and chatting with Bach Linh. Underground — I used the excuse of "personal studio accepting independent projects" and registered to establish a small-scale design consulting company. This is not sudden. It is normal in the industry for architects to work on additional projects. When Bach Linh knew about it, she only saw that I "have the will to progress". Through this company, my father and I signed a contract to consult on preliminary planning for the western land. Not a transfer, not a development mandate, just a consultation. But this contract has an additional clause — during the consultation period, the land owner is not allowed to sign any development cooperation memorandum with a third party. The terms and conditions were drafted by Luc Tu himself for me. Sealed without a single gap. Co Dien Chu's retreat - I have already blocked it. But he still didn't know it. During these two weeks, Bach Linh invited me out for afternoon tea three times. Every time she "accidentally" mentioned my story and Co Dien Chu.

“Nien Niem, have you two made an appointment to re-register your marriage recently?”

"Is he very busy with work these days? I see you rarely post on social networks."

“When you two get married, I have to be the bridesmaid.”

Being a bridesmaid. Married to someone else's legal husband, then the legal wife became a bridesmaid for "little third" - That's not right, in this game of chess, it's not right to be called "little third", I should be called - Victim. Becoming a bridesmaid at the victim's wedding.